by Gary Hixson

If you’re not already using the SureTrack component test information in the ProDemand auto repair software, you’re missing out on a valuable feature that can really save you a lot of time and effort in your diagnostic process. If you are using this information, you’ve probably already discovered how it leads you to accurate diagnosis. Either way, here are some bonus tips to help you increase efficiency even more.

1. Why is component test information included as part of SureTrack real-world information?

Let’s first look at the diagnostic process in five steps:

1. Verify the symptom or complaint and determine if there are any related symptoms
2. Analyze the symptoms
3. Isolate the fault through testing
4. Correct the problem (apply a fix)
5. Verify for proper operation

SureTrack as a whole provides all the information needed to perform all five of the above steps. Within SureTrack, you’ll find , which is needed to perform the middle step of the diagnostic process – isolating the fault through testing.

2. How does the component test information benefit me, the technician?

SureTrack provides the information you need to properly diagnose, therefore, making it easy to follow the properdiagnostic path. With SureTrack, the time you spend looking up information is more than made up for by reaching an accurate diagnosis with the first lookup. You don’t have to shortcut the process by parts-swapping.

3. What are the five elements of component test information?

The component test information is generated from five separate types of information:

1. Component Operation – Tells what the component does, how it operates, how it contributes to vehicle performance as well as details about voltage output and limits of operation.
2. Best Test Location – Tells where to actually perform the test – for instance, at a bulk-head connector instead of the component?
3. Component Location – Shows where on the vehicle is the component physically located.
4. Connector End View – Shows which connector pins correspond to which wires, allowing you to properly hook up your diagnostic meter.
5. Tests – Shows which specific diagnostic tests to run and what steps to take to run the tests.

4. How is the component test information created?

A team of professional technicians at Snap-on creates the content. Many are former professional technicians who are now full-time Snap-on employees, and many are “Night-Time Techs” who currently work as technicians during the day but “moonlight” for Snap-on, helping to create SureTrack content in their off hours.

5. Do you have known-good waveforms to go along with the component test information?

SureTrack actually has the industry’s largest database of known-good waveforms. SureTrack includes over 750,000 waveform and PID graphs. You’ll also see additional known-good waveforms included in some of the step-by-step of the component test information.

Having the online database of known-good waveforms to compare against helps technicians when diagnosing. Techs can compare the known-good waveform versus the output of their diagnostic tool to know if the component has passed or failed the test.

Learn more:

• Read more about SureTrack
• 5 Ways To Put SureTrack Probable Components To Work For You